Halifax course record beaten

A rising star and an established top player shared the limelight after Saturday’s Ogden Cup at the start of Halifax Golf Club’s open week.

Greg Hudson-Hunter lifted the trophy after a closely-fought and low scoring competition while fellow host club player Jamie Smith broke the course record with a second round 63.

Captain Simon Willis, in his second year in office, said: “We had a great day and I am delighted for Jamie as he is the club’s only plus-handicap player.”

The first players in a full field set off from 6.30 am. It was a windless but fairly misty day with plenty of drizzle.

Scott Minto from Hanging Heaton shot a 66 in the first round but that paled into insignificance when Ogden’s scratch team captain and Halifax-Huddersfield Union representative player Smith set the new course best.

He went out in just 30 shots, notching birdies on one, five, seven, eight and nine.

When he also birdied 10 and 11 and eagled the long 13th, the record was in danger of being obliterated as he stood at nine under.

However, Smith gave back shots on 14 and 18 to come home in 33, no doubt delighted with his score but feeling it could have been even better.

He finished fourth overall after going round in 72 shots (nett 73) in the morning.

Hudson-Hunter followed up a nett 70 in the first round with a superb 64 second time round and pipped N Connor on count back.

Willis added: “The course was in fantastic condition, hence the really good scores.

“The Ogden Cup is our premium nett competition of the year and after 36 holes the cream always rises to the top.

“We are really proud to have Gregory Hudson-Hunter as our Ogden Cup winner for 2016. Greg is a lovely young man and works really hard on his game.

“He played off a five handicap on the day and is already playing in our scratch team at such a young age, so is really promising and big things are expected from him in the future.”